Oldham Athletic

It remains perhaps the most iconic photograph in the history of British sport. England captain Bobby Moore is holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy while on the shoulders of Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Wilson after England had won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley. Wilson, who was 83, on Wednesday became the third member of that team to die after Moore and Alan Ball following what has been a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The left-back and oldest member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s iconic team, Wilson was not well enough to attend the 50th anniversary dinner two years ago, but had been living with his wife Pat in Yorkshire and regularly attending matches at Huddersfield Town with his two sons, Russell and Neil. News of Wilson’s death emerged just as Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia and, 52 years on, just simply the passage of time remains sufficient to underline the magnitude of what Wilson helped to achieve. Tributes poured in for a player who never courted the limelight and was among the lesser known of England’s World Cup-winning team, but was regarded by many good judges as the best left-back of his time and the finest in English history. “In many people’s eyes, the best English left-back ever,” said Jimmy Greaves. “We had some laughs and late nights through the years and even with your illness you carried on coming with us and keeping us on our toes until about six years ago. Goodbye old friend.” Ray Wilson (right) celebrates with the Jules Rimet trophy alongside Bobby Moore (left) and Jack Charlton (centre) Credit: PA Sir Bobby Charlton said he was “deeply saddened by the awful news”, describing Wilson as “a great man, an excellent team-mate and a close friend”. Wilson was born in Shirebrook, a Derbyshire mining village in 1934, and was working on the railways when he was signed by Huddersfield at the age of 18. It was there that he was converted from wing-half to full-back by Bill Shankly, then Huddersfield manager, and he broke into the England team from the second tier of English football. Wilson was one of the first of the modern and more mobile full-backs who could influence both ends of the pitch, and this mobility helped to inspire Ramsey’s ‘Wingless Wonders’ system. At the time, most full-backs were physical defenders, but Wilson could match opposing wingers for pace, skill and vision. Ray Wilson (top row, second right) with the England World Cup-winning team Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE He was also selected in the 1962 World Cup squad in Chile and, by the time he had moved to Everton in 1964, he was established in Ramsey’s England team. During the 1966 finals, Wilson was ever-present, providing the incisive pass which allowed Martin Peters to create Hurst’s winner in the quarter-final against Argentina before reaching his 50th cap in the semi-final against Portugal. In the final, his early header fell to Bologna striker Helmut Haller, who duly put West Germany into a 12th-minute lead, but he was among England’s best performers thereafter in the eventual 4-2 victory. Wilson would later joke that he was grimacing in pain in the photograph with Moore as he was shouldering most of his team-mate’s weight and a bronze statue of the four players – Moore, Hurst, Peters and Wilson – stands just yards from West Ham’s old Upton Park stadium. He later also played at Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, where he spent a short period coaching, before working as an undertaker and living just outside Huddersfield in Slaithwaite. As with so many of the 1966 team, the authorities were slow to celebrate Wilson’s achievements. He received an MBE some 34 years after the World Cup win and was inducted into English football’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He sold his World Cup-winning medal in 2002 for £80,750 after deciding it was better to share the funds between his children, rather than simply leave it as a memento. Ray Wilson slides in to take the ball away from France's Philippe Gondet in 1966 Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE Wilson was only 69 when he was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. His England team-mates Nobby Stiles and Peters are also suffering with the disease, while Jack Charlton has been experiencing problems with his memory. Numerous other former footballers have been diagnosed with various neurological diseases at a worryingly young age and, following a Telegraph campaign, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association are now funding a research project into the potential link with football. It is, though, 16 years since former England international, Jeff Astle, died from a type of dementia – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – that is caused by head trauma. World Cup winners Roger Hunt, left, and Ray Wilson of Liverpool and Everton, champions and FA Cup-winners respectively, show the Jules Rimet trophy a fortnight after England's victory to the Goodison crowd before the Charity Shield Credit: PA Photos In recent interviews, Wilson’s family have described how he remained happy even during his illness and spent much of his later years drawing and walking their dogs. The unexpected passion for art was prompted when his son’s partner bought him a colouring book and he has sketched thousands of detailed pictures of fantastical creatures on A4 sheets of card. For their promotion-winning 2016-17 season, Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in Wilson’s honour. It was designed with the tag line ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and, 50 years on from England’s greatest football triumph, was in the same red of the 1966 World Cup winning kit. The kit had Wilson’s signature in white, beneath the collar on the back, and below the white badge on the front. An old pair of his football boots are also on display in the boardroom. Joe Royle, who made his Everton debut in the same year that Wilson helped them also win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1966, said last night that Wilson had played “in the last England team that had four, maybe five, world class players”. He added that Wilson “was certainly one of those - a maestro”. When poised to win his 100th cap, Steven Gerrard explained even more succinctly how Wilson shared the most elevated possible platform in English football. “Hero status is given out far too easily,” he said. “As far as playing for England goes, there are 11 heroes. The rest haven’t really delivered.”

It remains perhaps the most iconic photograph in the history of British sport. England captain Bobby Moore is holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy while on the shoulders of Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Wilson after England had won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley. Wilson, who was 83, on Wednesday became the third member of that team to die after Moore and Alan Ball following what has been a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The left-back and oldest member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s iconic team, Wilson was not well enough to attend the 50th anniversary dinner two years ago, but had been living with his wife Pat in Yorkshire and regularly attending matches at Huddersfield Town with his two sons, Russell and Neil. News of Wilson’s death emerged just as Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia and, 52 years on, just simply the passage of time remains sufficient to underline the magnitude of what Wilson helped to achieve. Tributes poured in for a player who never courted the limelight and was among the lesser known of England’s World Cup-winning team, but was regarded by many good judges as the best left-back of his time and the finest in English history. “In many people’s eyes, the best English left-back ever,” said Jimmy Greaves. “We had some laughs and late nights through the years and even with your illness you carried on coming with us and keeping us on our toes until about six years ago. Goodbye old friend.” Ray Wilson (right) celebrates with the Jules Rimet trophy alongside Bobby Moore (left) and Jack Charlton (centre) Credit: PA Sir Bobby Charlton said he was “deeply saddened by the awful news”, describing Wilson as “a great man, an excellent team-mate and a close friend”. Wilson was born in Shirebrook, a Derbyshire mining village in 1934, and was working on the railways when he was signed by Huddersfield at the age of 18. It was there that he was converted from wing-half to full-back by Bill Shankly, then Huddersfield manager, and he broke into the England team from the second tier of English football. Wilson was one of the first of the modern and more mobile full-backs who could influence both ends of the pitch, and this mobility helped to inspire Ramsey’s ‘Wingless Wonders’ system. At the time, most full-backs were physical defenders, but Wilson could match opposing wingers for pace, skill and vision. Ray Wilson (top row, second right) with the England World Cup-winning team Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE He was also selected in the 1962 World Cup squad in Chile and, by the time he had moved to Everton in 1964, he was established in Ramsey’s England team. During the 1966 finals, Wilson was ever-present, providing the incisive pass which allowed Martin Peters to create Hurst’s winner in the quarter-final against Argentina before reaching his 50th cap in the semi-final against Portugal. In the final, his early header fell to Bologna striker Helmut Haller, who duly put West Germany into a 12th-minute lead, but he was among England’s best performers thereafter in the eventual 4-2 victory. Wilson would later joke that he was grimacing in pain in the photograph with Moore as he was shouldering most of his team-mate’s weight and a bronze statue of the four players – Moore, Hurst, Peters and Wilson – stands just yards from West Ham’s old Upton Park stadium. He later also played at Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, where he spent a short period coaching, before working as an undertaker and living just outside Huddersfield in Slaithwaite. As with so many of the 1966 team, the authorities were slow to celebrate Wilson’s achievements. He received an MBE some 34 years after the World Cup win and was inducted into English football’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He sold his World Cup-winning medal in 2002 for £80,750 after deciding it was better to share the funds between his children, rather than simply leave it as a memento. Ray Wilson slides in to take the ball away from France's Philippe Gondet in 1966 Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE Wilson was only 69 when he was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. His England team-mates Nobby Stiles and Peters are also suffering with the disease, while Jack Charlton has been experiencing problems with his memory. Numerous other former footballers have been diagnosed with various neurological diseases at a worryingly young age and, following a Telegraph campaign, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association are now funding a research project into the potential link with football. It is, though, 16 years since former England international, Jeff Astle, died from a type of dementia – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – that is caused by head trauma. World Cup winners Roger Hunt, left, and Ray Wilson of Liverpool and Everton, champions and FA Cup-winners respectively, show the Jules Rimet trophy a fortnight after England's victory to the Goodison crowd before the Charity Shield Credit: PA Photos In recent interviews, Wilson’s family have described how he remained happy even during his illness and spent much of his later years drawing and walking their dogs. The unexpected passion for art was prompted when his son’s partner bought him a colouring book and he has sketched thousands of detailed pictures of fantastical creatures on A4 sheets of card. For their promotion-winning 2016-17 season, Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in Wilson’s honour. It was designed with the tag line ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and, 50 years on from England’s greatest football triumph, was in the same red of the 1966 World Cup winning kit. The kit had Wilson’s signature in white, beneath the collar on the back, and below the white badge on the front. An old pair of his football boots are also on display in the boardroom. Joe Royle, who made his Everton debut in the same year that Wilson helped them also win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1966, said last night that Wilson had played “in the last England team that had four, maybe five, world class players”. He added that Wilson “was certainly one of those - a maestro”. When poised to win his 100th cap, Steven Gerrard explained even more succinctly how Wilson shared the most elevated possible platform in English football. “Hero status is given out far too easily,” he said. “As far as playing for England goes, there are 11 heroes. The rest haven’t really delivered.”

It remains perhaps the most iconic photograph in the history of British sport. England captain Bobby Moore is holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy while on the shoulders of Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Wilson after England had won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley. Wilson, who was 83, on Wednesday became the third member of that team to die after Moore and Alan Ball following what has been a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The left-back and oldest member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s iconic team, Wilson was not well enough to attend the 50th anniversary dinner two years ago, but had been living with his wife Pat in Yorkshire and regularly attending matches at Huddersfield Town with his two sons, Russell and Neil. News of Wilson’s death emerged just as Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia and, 52 years on, just simply the passage of time remains sufficient to underline the magnitude of what Wilson helped to achieve. Tributes poured in for a player who never courted the limelight and was among the lesser known of England’s World Cup-winning team, but was regarded by many good judges as the best left-back of his time and the finest in English history. “In many people’s eyes, the best English left-back ever,” said Jimmy Greaves. “We had some laughs and late nights through the years and even with your illness you carried on coming with us and keeping us on our toes until about six years ago. Goodbye old friend.” Ray Wilson (right) celebrates with the Jules Rimet trophy alongside Bobby Moore (left) and Jack Charlton (centre) Credit: PA Sir Bobby Charlton said he was “deeply saddened by the awful news”, describing Wilson as “a great man, an excellent team-mate and a close friend”. Wilson was born in Shirebrook, a Derbyshire mining village in 1934, and was working on the railways when he was signed by Huddersfield at the age of 18. It was there that he was converted from wing-half to full-back by Bill Shankly, then Huddersfield manager, and he broke into the England team from the second tier of English football. Wilson was one of the first of the modern and more mobile full-backs who could influence both ends of the pitch, and this mobility helped to inspire Ramsey’s ‘Wingless Wonders’ system. At the time, most full-backs were physical defenders, but Wilson could match opposing wingers for pace, skill and vision. Ray Wilson (top row, second right) with the England World Cup-winning team Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE He was also selected in the 1962 World Cup squad in Chile and, by the time he had moved to Everton in 1964, he was established in Ramsey’s England team. During the 1966 finals, Wilson was ever-present, providing the incisive pass which allowed Martin Peters to create Hurst’s winner in the quarter-final against Argentina before reaching his 50th cap in the semi-final against Portugal. In the final, his early header fell to Bologna striker Helmut Haller, who duly put West Germany into a 12th-minute lead, but he was among England’s best performers thereafter in the eventual 4-2 victory. Wilson would later joke that he was grimacing in pain in the photograph with Moore as he was shouldering most of his team-mate’s weight and a bronze statue of the four players – Moore, Hurst, Peters and Wilson – stands just yards from West Ham’s old Upton Park stadium. He later also played at Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, where he spent a short period coaching, before working as an undertaker and living just outside Huddersfield in Slaithwaite. As with so many of the 1966 team, the authorities were slow to celebrate Wilson’s achievements. He received an MBE some 34 years after the World Cup win and was inducted into English football’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He sold his World Cup-winning medal in 2002 for £80,750 after deciding it was better to share the funds between his children, rather than simply leave it as a memento. Ray Wilson slides in to take the ball away from France's Philippe Gondet in 1966 Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE Wilson was only 69 when he was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. His England team-mates Nobby Stiles and Peters are also suffering with the disease, while Jack Charlton has been experiencing problems with his memory. Numerous other former footballers have been diagnosed with various neurological diseases at a worryingly young age and, following a Telegraph campaign, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association are now funding a research project into the potential link with football. It is, though, 16 years since former England international, Jeff Astle, died from a type of dementia – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – that is caused by head trauma. World Cup winners Roger Hunt, left, and Ray Wilson of Liverpool and Everton, champions and FA Cup-winners respectively, show the Jules Rimet trophy a fortnight after England's victory to the Goodison crowd before the Charity Shield Credit: PA Photos In recent interviews, Wilson’s family have described how he remained happy even during his illness and spent much of his later years drawing and walking their dogs. The unexpected passion for art was prompted when his son’s partner bought him a colouring book and he has sketched thousands of detailed pictures of fantastical creatures on A4 sheets of card. For their promotion-winning 2016-17 season, Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in Wilson’s honour. It was designed with the tag line ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and, 50 years on from England’s greatest football triumph, was in the same red of the 1966 World Cup winning kit. The kit had Wilson’s signature in white, beneath the collar on the back, and below the white badge on the front. An old pair of his football boots are also on display in the boardroom. Joe Royle, who made his Everton debut in the same year that Wilson helped them also win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1966, said last night that Wilson had played “in the last England team that had four, maybe five, world class players”. He added that Wilson “was certainly one of those - a maestro”. When poised to win his 100th cap, Steven Gerrard explained even more succinctly how Wilson shared the most elevated possible platform in English football. “Hero status is given out far too easily,” he said. “As far as playing for England goes, there are 11 heroes. The rest haven’t really delivered.”

It remains perhaps the most iconic photograph in the history of British sport. England captain Bobby Moore is holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy while on the shoulders of Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Wilson after England had won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley. Wilson, who was 83, on Wednesday became the third member of that team to die after Moore and Alan Ball following what has been a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The left-back and oldest member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s iconic team, Wilson was not well enough to attend the 50th anniversary dinner two years ago, but had been living with his wife Pat in Yorkshire and regularly attending matches at Huddersfield Town with his two sons, Russell and Neil. News of Wilson’s death emerged just as Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia and, 52 years on, just simply the passage of time remains sufficient to underline the magnitude of what Wilson helped to achieve. Tributes poured in for a player who never courted the limelight and was among the lesser known of England’s World Cup-winning team, but was regarded by many good judges as the best left-back of his time and the finest in English history. “In many people’s eyes, the best English left-back ever,” said Jimmy Greaves. “We had some laughs and late nights through the years and even with your illness you carried on coming with us and keeping us on our toes until about six years ago. Goodbye old friend.” Ray Wilson (right) celebrates with the Jules Rimet trophy alongside Bobby Moore (left) and Jack Charlton (centre) Credit: PA Sir Bobby Charlton said he was “deeply saddened by the awful news”, describing Wilson as “a great man, an excellent team-mate and a close friend”. Wilson was born in Shirebrook, a Derbyshire mining village in 1934, and was working on the railways when he was signed by Huddersfield at the age of 18. It was there that he was converted from wing-half to full-back by Bill Shankly, then Huddersfield manager, and he broke into the England team from the second tier of English football. Wilson was one of the first of the modern and more mobile full-backs who could influence both ends of the pitch, and this mobility helped to inspire Ramsey’s ‘Wingless Wonders’ system. At the time, most full-backs were physical defenders, but Wilson could match opposing wingers for pace, skill and vision. Ray Wilson (top row, second right) with the England World Cup-winning team Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE He was also selected in the 1962 World Cup squad in Chile and, by the time he had moved to Everton in 1964, he was established in Ramsey’s England team. During the 1966 finals, Wilson was ever-present, providing the incisive pass which allowed Martin Peters to create Hurst’s winner in the quarter-final against Argentina before reaching his 50th cap in the semi-final against Portugal. In the final, his early header fell to Bologna striker Helmut Haller, who duly put West Germany into a 12th-minute lead, but he was among England’s best performers thereafter in the eventual 4-2 victory. Wilson would later joke that he was grimacing in pain in the photograph with Moore as he was shouldering most of his team-mate’s weight and a bronze statue of the four players – Moore, Hurst, Peters and Wilson – stands just yards from West Ham’s old Upton Park stadium. He later also played at Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, where he spent a short period coaching, before working as an undertaker and living just outside Huddersfield in Slaithwaite. As with so many of the 1966 team, the authorities were slow to celebrate Wilson’s achievements. He received an MBE some 34 years after the World Cup win and was inducted into English football’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He sold his World Cup-winning medal in 2002 for £80,750 after deciding it was better to share the funds between his children, rather than simply leave it as a memento. Ray Wilson slides in to take the ball away from France's Philippe Gondet in 1966 Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE Wilson was only 69 when he was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. His England team-mates Nobby Stiles and Peters are also suffering with the disease, while Jack Charlton has been experiencing problems with his memory. Numerous other former footballers have been diagnosed with various neurological diseases at a worryingly young age and, following a Telegraph campaign, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association are now funding a research project into the potential link with football. It is, though, 16 years since former England international, Jeff Astle, died from a type of dementia – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – that is caused by head trauma. World Cup winners Roger Hunt, left, and Ray Wilson of Liverpool and Everton, champions and FA Cup-winners respectively, show the Jules Rimet trophy a fortnight after England's victory to the Goodison crowd before the Charity Shield Credit: PA Photos In recent interviews, Wilson’s family have described how he remained happy even during his illness and spent much of his later years drawing and walking their dogs. The unexpected passion for art was prompted when his son’s partner bought him a colouring book and he has sketched thousands of detailed pictures of fantastical creatures on A4 sheets of card. For their promotion-winning 2016-17 season, Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in Wilson’s honour. It was designed with the tag line ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and, 50 years on from England’s greatest football triumph, was in the same red of the 1966 World Cup winning kit. The kit had Wilson’s signature in white, beneath the collar on the back, and below the white badge on the front. An old pair of his football boots are also on display in the boardroom. Joe Royle, who made his Everton debut in the same year that Wilson helped them also win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1966, said last night that Wilson had played “in the last England team that had four, maybe five, world class players”. He added that Wilson “was certainly one of those - a maestro”. When poised to win his 100th cap, Steven Gerrard explained even more succinctly how Wilson shared the most elevated possible platform in English football. “Hero status is given out far too easily,” he said. “As far as playing for England goes, there are 11 heroes. The rest haven’t really delivered.”

It remains perhaps the most iconic photograph in the history of British sport. England captain Bobby Moore is holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy while on the shoulders of Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Wilson after England had won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley. Wilson, who was 83, on Wednesday became the third member of that team to die after Moore and Alan Ball following what has been a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The left-back and oldest member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s iconic team, Wilson was not well enough to attend the 50th anniversary dinner two years ago, but had been living with his wife Pat in Yorkshire and regularly attending matches at Huddersfield Town with his two sons, Russell and Neil. News of Wilson’s death emerged just as Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia and, 52 years on, just simply the passage of time remains sufficient to underline the magnitude of what Wilson helped to achieve. Tributes poured in for a player who never courted the limelight and was among the lesser known of England’s World Cup-winning team, but was regarded by many good judges as the best left-back of his time and the finest in English history. “In many people’s eyes, the best English left-back ever,” said Jimmy Greaves. “We had some laughs and late nights through the years and even with your illness you carried on coming with us and keeping us on our toes until about six years ago. Goodbye old friend.” Ray Wilson (right) celebrates with the Jules Rimet trophy alongside Bobby Moore (left) and Jack Charlton (centre) Credit: PA Sir Bobby Charlton said he was “deeply saddened by the awful news”, describing Wilson as “a great man, an excellent team-mate and a close friend”. Wilson was born in Shirebrook, a Derbyshire mining village in 1934, and was working on the railways when he was signed by Huddersfield at the age of 18. It was there that he was converted from wing-half to full-back by Bill Shankly, then Huddersfield manager, and he broke into the England team from the second tier of English football. Wilson was one of the first of the modern and more mobile full-backs who could influence both ends of the pitch, and this mobility helped to inspire Ramsey’s ‘Wingless Wonders’ system. At the time, most full-backs were physical defenders, but Wilson could match opposing wingers for pace, skill and vision. Ray Wilson (top row, second right) with the England World Cup-winning team Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE He was also selected in the 1962 World Cup squad in Chile and, by the time he had moved to Everton in 1964, he was established in Ramsey’s England team. During the 1966 finals, Wilson was ever-present, providing the incisive pass which allowed Martin Peters to create Hurst’s winner in the quarter-final against Argentina before reaching his 50th cap in the semi-final against Portugal. In the final, his early header fell to Bologna striker Helmut Haller, who duly put West Germany into a 12th-minute lead, but he was among England’s best performers thereafter in the eventual 4-2 victory. Wilson would later joke that he was grimacing in pain in the photograph with Moore as he was shouldering most of his team-mate’s weight and a bronze statue of the four players – Moore, Hurst, Peters and Wilson – stands just yards from West Ham’s old Upton Park stadium. He later also played at Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, where he spent a short period coaching, before working as an undertaker and living just outside Huddersfield in Slaithwaite. As with so many of the 1966 team, the authorities were slow to celebrate Wilson’s achievements. He received an MBE some 34 years after the World Cup win and was inducted into English football’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He sold his World Cup-winning medal in 2002 for £80,750 after deciding it was better to share the funds between his children, rather than simply leave it as a memento. Ray Wilson slides in to take the ball away from France's Philippe Gondet in 1966 Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE Wilson was only 69 when he was diagnosed with dementia in 2004. His England team-mates Nobby Stiles and Peters are also suffering with the disease, while Jack Charlton has been experiencing problems with his memory. Numerous other former footballers have been diagnosed with various neurological diseases at a worryingly young age and, following a Telegraph campaign, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association are now funding a research project into the potential link with football. It is, though, 16 years since former England international, Jeff Astle, died from a type of dementia – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – that is caused by head trauma. World Cup winners Roger Hunt, left, and Ray Wilson of Liverpool and Everton, champions and FA Cup-winners respectively, show the Jules Rimet trophy a fortnight after England's victory to the Goodison crowd before the Charity Shield Credit: PA Photos In recent interviews, Wilson’s family have described how he remained happy even during his illness and spent much of his later years drawing and walking their dogs. The unexpected passion for art was prompted when his son’s partner bought him a colouring book and he has sketched thousands of detailed pictures of fantastical creatures on A4 sheets of card. For their promotion-winning 2016-17 season, Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in Wilson’s honour. It was designed with the tag line ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and, 50 years on from England’s greatest football triumph, was in the same red of the 1966 World Cup winning kit. The kit had Wilson’s signature in white, beneath the collar on the back, and below the white badge on the front. An old pair of his football boots are also on display in the boardroom. Joe Royle, who made his Everton debut in the same year that Wilson helped them also win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1966, said last night that Wilson had played “in the last England team that had four, maybe five, world class players”. He added that Wilson “was certainly one of those - a maestro”. When poised to win his 100th cap, Steven Gerrard explained even more succinctly how Wilson shared the most elevated possible platform in English football. “Hero status is given out far too easily,” he said. “As far as playing for England goes, there are 11 heroes. The rest haven’t really delivered.”

Ray Wilson has become the third of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team to die following a long battle against Alzheimer’s Disease. The left-back - oldest member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s team - was not well enough to attend the 50th anniversary dinner two years ago but had been living with his wife Pat in Yorkshire and had remained a regular supporter at Huddersfield Town. As well as Huddersfield, Wilson played for Everton, where he also won the 1966 FA Cup, as well as Oldham Athletic and Bradford City. He was capped 63 times for England and played every match during the 1966 World Cup finals. He worked as an undertaker in retirement and only received an MBE in 2000, some 34 years after helping England to win the World Cup. Wilson was only 69 when he was diagnosed with dementia, a disease that his 1966 England team-mates Nobby Stiles and Martin Peters are also currently suffering with. Jack Charlton is also experiencing problems with his memory. Ray Wilson (top row, second right) with the England World Cup-winning team Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE Numerous other former players are now suffering with neurological problems and, following a Telegraph campaign, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association have funded a research project that has begun this year. That is 16 years after another former England international, Jeff Astle, died from a type of dementia that has since been proven to be caused by trauma to the head. In recent interviews, Wilson’s family have described how he remained happy even during his illness and spent much of his later years drawing and walking. Ray Wilson slides in to take the ball away from France's Philippe Gondet in 1966 Credit: HULTON ARCHIVE For their promotion-winning 2016-17 season, Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in Wilson’s honour. It was designed with the tag line ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and, 50 years on from England's greatest football triumph, was in the same red as the 1966 World Cup-winning kit. The kit had Wilson's signature in white, beneath the collar on the back, and below the white badge on the front.

Year of the underdog: Every single promoted team in English football's top four divisions avoids relegation

Huddersfield's battling draw with Chelsea completed a remarkable season in which every team that won promotion to English football's top leagues remain in the division. David Wagner's side earned a vital point at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to guarantee their Premier League safety for another season. The result meant that Huddersfield joined fellow promoted sides Brighton and Newcastle in safely avoiding a return the Championship as Stoke, West Brom and - barring a miracle - Swansea all dropped out of the top flight. For the first time since the 2001-02 season, when Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton defied the odds, every single team that earned promotion to one of English football's top four leagues avoided relegation. Alan Alger, PR manager at bookmakers Betway, said the odds on such an outcome would have been bigger than Leicester City's Premier League title triumph in 2016. Stoke City lost to Crystal Palace last weekend to end their 10-year stay in the Premier League Credit: Getty Images In the Championship, Burton Albion and Barnsley were relegated on a dramatic final day after Sunderland's fate had been sealed a week earlier. Below the top-flight, Championship new-boys Sheffield United and Millwall both enjoyed top-half finishes while Bolton Wanderers escaped the drop on the final day. In League One, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool all stayed well clear of the bottom four as Bury, MK Dons, Northampton Town, and Oldham Athletic were relegated to the fourth tier. League Two's Forest Green narrowly avoided an immediate return to the Vanarama National League while fellow promoted side Lincoln enjoyed a seventh-place finish, booking their place in the play-offs. Bolton Wanderers came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest on the final day and avoid an instant return to League One Credit: Getty Images In fact, the trend extends beyond the Football League, with Maidenhead United, Ebbsfleet United, Halifax Town and Fylde all securing safety after earning promotion to National League One last season. Huddersfield manager David Wagner was last night quick to praise his players for the "incredible achievement" of defying Premier League relegation. “This is an absolute over-achievement,” said Wagner. Huddersfield came up via the Championship play-offs Credit: PA “It's a bigger achievement than the promotion last season. Last year we were predicted to be relegated and we got promoted. This season we were predicted to be a team relegated by miles and I understand it. “We work under circumstances which are not even Championship circumstances. But part of our DNA, the Huddersfield Town DNA, is to try it. "To have passion, desire... how big you are doesn't count. It's about trying everything. We are humble. We are ambitious, too. We search a chance in every game. Today we were chance-less, more or less. It's an incredible achievement for us. It feels like another trophy.” Promoted teams avoid relegation | English football's top five leagues

Year of the underdog: Every single promoted team in English football's top four divisions avoids relegation

Huddersfield's battling draw with Chelsea completed a remarkable season in which every team that won promotion to English football's top leagues remain in the division. David Wagner's side earned a vital point at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to guarantee their Premier League safety for another season. The result meant that Huddersfield joined fellow promoted sides Brighton and Newcastle in safely avoiding a return the Championship as Stoke, West Brom and - barring a miracle - Swansea all dropped out of the top flight. For the first time since the 2001-02 season, when Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton defied the odds, every single team that earned promotion to one of English football's top four leagues avoided relegation. Alan Alger, PR manager at bookmakers Betway, said the odds on such an outcome would have been bigger than Leicester City's Premier League title triumph in 2016. Stoke City lost to Crystal Palace last weekend to end their 10-year stay in the Premier League Credit: Getty Images In the Championship, Burton Albion and Barnsley were relegated on a dramatic final day after Sunderland's fate had been sealed a week earlier. Below the top-flight, Championship new-boys Sheffield United and Millwall both enjoyed top-half finishes while Bolton Wanderers escaped the drop on the final day. In League One, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool all stayed well clear of the bottom four as Bury, MK Dons, Northampton Town, and Oldham Athletic were relegated to the fourth tier. League Two's Forest Green narrowly avoided an immediate return to the Vanarama National League while fellow promoted side Lincoln enjoyed a seventh-place finish, booking their place in the play-offs. Bolton Wanderers came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest on the final day and avoid an instant return to League One Credit: Getty Images In fact, the trend extends beyond the Football League, with Maidenhead United, Ebbsfleet United, Halifax Town and Fylde all securing safety after earning promotion to National League One last season. Huddersfield manager David Wagner was last night quick to praise his players for the "incredible achievement" of defying Premier League relegation. “This is an absolute over-achievement,” said Wagner. Huddersfield came up via the Championship play-offs Credit: PA “It's a bigger achievement than the promotion last season. Last year we were predicted to be relegated and we got promoted. This season we were predicted to be a team relegated by miles and I understand it. “We work under circumstances which are not even Championship circumstances. But part of our DNA, the Huddersfield Town DNA, is to try it. "To have passion, desire... how big you are doesn't count. It's about trying everything. We are humble. We are ambitious, too. We search a chance in every game. Today we were chance-less, more or less. It's an incredible achievement for us. It feels like another trophy.” Promoted teams avoid relegation | English football's top five leagues

Year of the underdog: Every single promoted team in English football's top four divisions avoids relegation

Huddersfield's battling draw with Chelsea completed a remarkable season in which every team that won promotion to English football's top leagues remain in the division. David Wagner's side earned a vital point at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to guarantee their Premier League safety for another season. The result meant that Huddersfield joined fellow promoted sides Brighton and Newcastle in safely avoiding a return the Championship as Stoke, West Brom and - barring a miracle - Swansea all dropped out of the top flight. For the first time since the 2001-02 season, when Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton defied the odds, every single team that earned promotion to one of English football's top four leagues avoided relegation. Alan Alger, PR manager at bookmakers Betway, said the odds on such an outcome would have been bigger than Leicester City's Premier League title triumph in 2016. Stoke City lost to Crystal Palace last weekend to end their 10-year stay in the Premier League Credit: Getty Images In the Championship, Burton Albion and Barnsley were relegated on a dramatic final day after Sunderland's fate had been sealed a week earlier. Below the top-flight, Championship new-boys Sheffield United and Millwall both enjoyed top-half finishes while Bolton Wanderers escaped the drop on the final day. In League One, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool all stayed well clear of the bottom four as Bury, MK Dons, Northampton Town, and Oldham Athletic were relegated to the fourth tier. League Two's Forest Green narrowly avoided an immediate return to the Vanarama National League while fellow promoted side Lincoln enjoyed a seventh-place finish, booking their place in the play-offs. Bolton Wanderers came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest on the final day and avoid an instant return to League One Credit: Getty Images In fact, the trend extends beyond the Football League, with Maidenhead United, Ebbsfleet United, Halifax Town and Fylde all securing safety after earning promotion to National League One last season. Huddersfield manager David Wagner was last night quick to praise his players for the "incredible achievement" of defying Premier League relegation. “This is an absolute over-achievement,” said Wagner. Huddersfield came up via the Championship play-offs Credit: PA “It's a bigger achievement than the promotion last season. Last year we were predicted to be relegated and we got promoted. This season we were predicted to be a team relegated by miles and I understand it. “We work under circumstances which are not even Championship circumstances. But part of our DNA, the Huddersfield Town DNA, is to try it. "To have passion, desire... how big you are doesn't count. It's about trying everything. We are humble. We are ambitious, too. We search a chance in every game. Today we were chance-less, more or less. It's an incredible achievement for us. It feels like another trophy.” Promoted teams avoid relegation | English football's top five leagues

Year of the underdog: Every single promoted team in English football's top four divisions avoids relegation

Huddersfield's battling draw with Chelsea completed a remarkable season in which every team that won promotion to English football's top leagues remain in the division. David Wagner's side earned a vital point at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to guarantee their Premier League safety for another season. The result meant that Huddersfield joined fellow promoted sides Brighton and Newcastle in safely avoiding a return the Championship as Stoke, West Brom and - barring a miracle - Swansea all dropped out of the top flight. For the first time since the 2001-02 season, when Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton defied the odds, every single team that earned promotion to one of English football's top four leagues avoided relegation. Alan Alger, PR manager at bookmakers Betway, said the odds on such an outcome would have been bigger than Leicester City's Premier League title triumph in 2016. Stoke City lost to Crystal Palace last weekend to end their 10-year stay in the Premier League Credit: Getty Images In the Championship, Burton Albion and Barnsley were relegated on a dramatic final day after Sunderland's fate had been sealed a week earlier. Below the top-flight, Championship new-boys Sheffield United and Millwall both enjoyed top-half finishes while Bolton Wanderers escaped the drop on the final day. In League One, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool all stayed well clear of the bottom four as Bury, MK Dons, Northampton Town, and Oldham Athletic were relegated to the fourth tier. League Two's Forest Green narrowly avoided an immediate return to the Vanarama National League while fellow promoted side Lincoln enjoyed a seventh-place finish, booking their place in the play-offs. Bolton Wanderers came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest on the final day and avoid an instant return to League One Credit: Getty Images In fact, the trend extends beyond the Football League, with Maidenhead United, Ebbsfleet United, Halifax Town and Fylde all securing safety after earning promotion to National League One last season. Huddersfield manager David Wagner was last night quick to praise his players for the "incredible achievement" of defying Premier League relegation. “This is an absolute over-achievement,” said Wagner. Huddersfield came up via the Championship play-offs Credit: PA “It's a bigger achievement than the promotion last season. Last year we were predicted to be relegated and we got promoted. This season we were predicted to be a team relegated by miles and I understand it. “We work under circumstances which are not even Championship circumstances. But part of our DNA, the Huddersfield Town DNA, is to try it. "To have passion, desire... how big you are doesn't count. It's about trying everything. We are humble. We are ambitious, too. We search a chance in every game. Today we were chance-less, more or less. It's an incredible achievement for us. It feels like another trophy.” Promoted teams avoid relegation | English football's top five leagues

Vincent Kompany marks Premier League title triumph with speech to Man City fans in his local pub

Vincent Kompany has challenged his Manchester City team-mates to usher in a period of domestic dominance after Pep Guardiola’s side were unexpectedly crowned champions with five matches of the season to spare on Sunday. Guardiola was playing golf with Tommy Fleetwood, the world No 12, and his son Marius at Sandiway in Cheshire when news filtered through that Manchester United had slumped to a miserable 1-0 defeat to bottom club West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford to guarantee their rivals the title. It evoked memories of Sir Alex Ferguson, the former United manager, being on the golf course when he heard his team had clinched their first Premier League title following Oldham Athletic’s victory at Aston Villa in May 1993. City’s 3-1 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening left United needing to avoid defeat to West Brom to delay their rivals’ title coronation, but Jose Mourinho’s side surrendered in abject fashion, Jay Rodriguez’s 73rd-minute goal handing Guardiola his ­seventh title in nine seasons and City their third in seven. City could become the first Premier League club to reach the 100-point barrier should they claim 13 points from their final five games and need just nine to surpass Chelsea’s record haul of 95 in 2004-05. Vincent Kompany wants to ensure there's no let up in their pursuit of silverware Credit: Getty Images But Kompany, the City captain, has already turned his sights to next season by urging the club to ensure there is no let-up in their pursuit of silverware. City’s title defences after their successes in 2012 and 2014 ended in disappointment and the Belgian – the club’s longest serving player – is determined to go one better next time around. “You can’t take it for granted. I’ve never been able to retain a title and I want to see if this team can be even more successful,” Kompany, who watched the game in the living room of his wife Carla’s grandmother’s house, said. “I have been lucky to win three but so many I have missed. I suppose my team-mates will perhaps roll their eyes a little bit but I have never retained a title so I want to see how we react now next season. “He [Guardiola] has been able to transfer to the team … that hunger and desire to never be satisfied. I’m probably the first one to think about next season, I would like to stay humble, this is not a dynasty. It is one title and we are all delighted but there is a lot more to do to ­unlock our full potential.” Man City player ratings for title-winning season Kompany said City’s players had bought wholeheartedly into Guardiola’s methods. “We all believed in it,” he said. “There was a period of adaptation for him coming into the league and for us taking in his methods. They were the right ones and the ones we believed in. I’m sure there are differences to how we play today compared to his Bayern and Barcelona teams. We survive and live by the strength of the team. One team was dominant in Germany and one had [Lionel] Messi, but we are nothing without the team. “The first one [title] was special but this one is perhaps the one I’m most proud of. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team. Our Time. Our City. Premier League Champions 17/18 ��#mancitypic.twitter.com/lztlN3lWFW— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2018 “I had that feeling when I woke up this morning, I don’t like to wait and see a team lose but you go into a game and think, ‘West Brom are a good team, they don’t deserve to be where they are’ and a set-piece, a wonderful goal from Rodriguez, thank you. It shows how football is in Manchester. “There have been a lot more good days for the red side but today it is for the blue.” pic.twitter.com/HHvJDwkejY— James Matthews (@JamesM1717) April 15, 2018 “We were consistent the whole season, we played at the level we wanted to. A few times we won it before we nearly threw it away.” Speaking in the wake of City’s win over Spurs, Guardiola said the challenge for the club was to win back-to-back titles and start to try to carve a history to eventually match historic rivals such as United and Arsenal. The key men on Pep Guardiola's backroom staff | James Ducker “We have to try,” the City manager said. “If you read what the people say this week we have to improve. Against Tottenham showed me how strong they were. It is important to believe because Manchester City is not like United or Chelsea or Arsenal – you know, the big clubs in England who have a big history behind them. Man City fans gather at the Etihad to celebrate the title Credit: PA “So you have to do these kinds of things to think, ‘Wow, we are good. We are good too, like the other ones’. Of course it’s not going to happen next season the same – it’s impossible. But that is the target.” Mourinho congratulated City but claimed he feared a setback against West Brom after being dismayed by the over-the-top reaction to the 3-2 derby win a week earlier. My 3rd league but this one is the most special.Thanks to everyone for supporting me in this tough year!������ pic.twitter.com/kKslE189uu— David Silva (@21LVA) April 15, 2018 “Yes, I know them, I smell,” the United manager said. “I have lots of experience and that’s not because I won eight titles and I’m not on the moon because I won against Manchester City, a match that is only three points,” he said. “I saw lots of people on the moon because we won against Manchester City. I won too much to be happy with just one big victory. During the week I was trying to fight that because I was feeling it. “City won the title because they were the best team. Probably because I won eight championships I was not on the moon with the victory. In my opinion it affected for sure some of the people that was too happy just with that.”

Vincent Kompany marks Premier League title triumph with speech to Man City fans in his local pub

Vincent Kompany has challenged his Manchester City team-mates to usher in a period of domestic dominance after Pep Guardiola’s side were unexpectedly crowned champions with five matches of the season to spare on Sunday. Guardiola was playing golf with Tommy Fleetwood, the world No 12, and his son Marius at Sandiway in Cheshire when news filtered through that Manchester United had slumped to a miserable 1-0 defeat to bottom club West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford to guarantee their rivals the title. It evoked memories of Sir Alex Ferguson, the former United manager, being on the golf course when he heard his team had clinched their first Premier League title following Oldham Athletic’s victory at Aston Villa in May 1993. City’s 3-1 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening left United needing to avoid defeat to West Brom to delay their rivals’ title coronation, but Jose Mourinho’s side surrendered in abject fashion, Jay Rodriguez’s 73rd-minute goal handing Guardiola his ­seventh title in nine seasons and City their third in seven. City could become the first Premier League club to reach the 100-point barrier should they claim 13 points from their final five games and need just nine to surpass Chelsea’s record haul of 95 in 2004-05. Vincent Kompany wants to ensure there's no let up in their pursuit of silverware Credit: Getty Images But Kompany, the City captain, has already turned his sights to next season by urging the club to ensure there is no let-up in their pursuit of silverware. City’s title defences after their successes in 2012 and 2014 ended in disappointment and the Belgian – the club’s longest serving player – is determined to go one better next time around. “You can’t take it for granted. I’ve never been able to retain a title and I want to see if this team can be even more successful,” Kompany, who watched the game in the living room of his wife Carla’s grandmother’s house, said. “I have been lucky to win three but so many I have missed. I suppose my team-mates will perhaps roll their eyes a little bit but I have never retained a title so I want to see how we react now next season. “He [Guardiola] has been able to transfer to the team … that hunger and desire to never be satisfied. I’m probably the first one to think about next season, I would like to stay humble, this is not a dynasty. It is one title and we are all delighted but there is a lot more to do to ­unlock our full potential.” Man City player ratings for title-winning season Kompany said City’s players had bought wholeheartedly into Guardiola’s methods. “We all believed in it,” he said. “There was a period of adaptation for him coming into the league and for us taking in his methods. They were the right ones and the ones we believed in. I’m sure there are differences to how we play today compared to his Bayern and Barcelona teams. We survive and live by the strength of the team. One team was dominant in Germany and one had [Lionel] Messi, but we are nothing without the team. “The first one [title] was special but this one is perhaps the one I’m most proud of. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team. Our Time. Our City. Premier League Champions 17/18 ��#mancitypic.twitter.com/lztlN3lWFW— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2018 “I had that feeling when I woke up this morning, I don’t like to wait and see a team lose but you go into a game and think, ‘West Brom are a good team, they don’t deserve to be where they are’ and a set-piece, a wonderful goal from Rodriguez, thank you. It shows how football is in Manchester. “There have been a lot more good days for the red side but today it is for the blue.” pic.twitter.com/HHvJDwkejY— James Matthews (@JamesM1717) April 15, 2018 “We were consistent the whole season, we played at the level we wanted to. A few times we won it before we nearly threw it away.” Speaking in the wake of City’s win over Spurs, Guardiola said the challenge for the club was to win back-to-back titles and start to try to carve a history to eventually match historic rivals such as United and Arsenal. The key men on Pep Guardiola's backroom staff | James Ducker “We have to try,” the City manager said. “If you read what the people say this week we have to improve. Against Tottenham showed me how strong they were. It is important to believe because Manchester City is not like United or Chelsea or Arsenal – you know, the big clubs in England who have a big history behind them. Man City fans gather at the Etihad to celebrate the title Credit: PA “So you have to do these kinds of things to think, ‘Wow, we are good. We are good too, like the other ones’. Of course it’s not going to happen next season the same – it’s impossible. But that is the target.” Mourinho congratulated City but claimed he feared a setback against West Brom after being dismayed by the over-the-top reaction to the 3-2 derby win a week earlier. My 3rd league but this one is the most special.Thanks to everyone for supporting me in this tough year!������ pic.twitter.com/kKslE189uu— David Silva (@21LVA) April 15, 2018 “Yes, I know them, I smell,” the United manager said. “I have lots of experience and that’s not because I won eight titles and I’m not on the moon because I won against Manchester City, a match that is only three points,” he said. “I saw lots of people on the moon because we won against Manchester City. I won too much to be happy with just one big victory. During the week I was trying to fight that because I was feeling it. “City won the title because they were the best team. Probably because I won eight championships I was not on the moon with the victory. In my opinion it affected for sure some of the people that was too happy just with that.”

Vincent Kompany marks Premier League title triumph with speech to Man City fans in his local pub

Vincent Kompany has challenged his Manchester City team-mates to usher in a period of domestic dominance after Pep Guardiola’s side were unexpectedly crowned champions with five matches of the season to spare on Sunday. Guardiola was playing golf with Tommy Fleetwood, the world No 12, and his son Marius at Sandiway in Cheshire when news filtered through that Manchester United had slumped to a miserable 1-0 defeat to bottom club West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford to guarantee their rivals the title. It evoked memories of Sir Alex Ferguson, the former United manager, being on the golf course when he heard his team had clinched their first Premier League title following Oldham Athletic’s victory at Aston Villa in May 1993. City’s 3-1 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening left United needing to avoid defeat to West Brom to delay their rivals’ title coronation, but Jose Mourinho’s side surrendered in abject fashion, Jay Rodriguez’s 73rd-minute goal handing Guardiola his ­seventh title in nine seasons and City their third in seven. City could become the first Premier League club to reach the 100-point barrier should they claim 13 points from their final five games and need just nine to surpass Chelsea’s record haul of 95 in 2004-05. Vincent Kompany wants to ensure there's no let up in their pursuit of silverware Credit: Getty Images But Kompany, the City captain, has already turned his sights to next season by urging the club to ensure there is no let-up in their pursuit of silverware. City’s title defences after their successes in 2012 and 2014 ended in disappointment and the Belgian – the club’s longest serving player – is determined to go one better next time around. “You can’t take it for granted. I’ve never been able to retain a title and I want to see if this team can be even more successful,” Kompany, who watched the game in the living room of his wife Carla’s grandmother’s house, said. “I have been lucky to win three but so many I have missed. I suppose my team-mates will perhaps roll their eyes a little bit but I have never retained a title so I want to see how we react now next season. “He [Guardiola] has been able to transfer to the team … that hunger and desire to never be satisfied. I’m probably the first one to think about next season, I would like to stay humble, this is not a dynasty. It is one title and we are all delighted but there is a lot more to do to ­unlock our full potential.” Man City player ratings for title-winning season Kompany said City’s players had bought wholeheartedly into Guardiola’s methods. “We all believed in it,” he said. “There was a period of adaptation for him coming into the league and for us taking in his methods. They were the right ones and the ones we believed in. I’m sure there are differences to how we play today compared to his Bayern and Barcelona teams. We survive and live by the strength of the team. One team was dominant in Germany and one had [Lionel] Messi, but we are nothing without the team. “The first one [title] was special but this one is perhaps the one I’m most proud of. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team. Our Time. Our City. Premier League Champions 17/18 ��#mancitypic.twitter.com/lztlN3lWFW— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2018 “I had that feeling when I woke up this morning, I don’t like to wait and see a team lose but you go into a game and think, ‘West Brom are a good team, they don’t deserve to be where they are’ and a set-piece, a wonderful goal from Rodriguez, thank you. It shows how football is in Manchester. “There have been a lot more good days for the red side but today it is for the blue.” pic.twitter.com/HHvJDwkejY— James Matthews (@JamesM1717) April 15, 2018 “We were consistent the whole season, we played at the level we wanted to. A few times we won it before we nearly threw it away.” Speaking in the wake of City’s win over Spurs, Guardiola said the challenge for the club was to win back-to-back titles and start to try to carve a history to eventually match historic rivals such as United and Arsenal. The key men on Pep Guardiola's backroom staff | James Ducker “We have to try,” the City manager said. “If you read what the people say this week we have to improve. Against Tottenham showed me how strong they were. It is important to believe because Manchester City is not like United or Chelsea or Arsenal – you know, the big clubs in England who have a big history behind them. Man City fans gather at the Etihad to celebrate the title Credit: PA “So you have to do these kinds of things to think, ‘Wow, we are good. We are good too, like the other ones’. Of course it’s not going to happen next season the same – it’s impossible. But that is the target.” Mourinho congratulated City but claimed he feared a setback against West Brom after being dismayed by the over-the-top reaction to the 3-2 derby win a week earlier. My 3rd league but this one is the most special.Thanks to everyone for supporting me in this tough year!������ pic.twitter.com/kKslE189uu— David Silva (@21LVA) April 15, 2018 “Yes, I know them, I smell,” the United manager said. “I have lots of experience and that’s not because I won eight titles and I’m not on the moon because I won against Manchester City, a match that is only three points,” he said. “I saw lots of people on the moon because we won against Manchester City. I won too much to be happy with just one big victory. During the week I was trying to fight that because I was feeling it. “City won the title because they were the best team. Probably because I won eight championships I was not on the moon with the victory. In my opinion it affected for sure some of the people that was too happy just with that.”

Vincent Kompany: 'There is a lot more to do to unlock Man City's full potential'

Vincent Kompany has challenged his Manchester City team-mates to usher in a period of domestic dominance after Pep Guardiola’s side were unexpectedly crowned champions with five matches of the season to spare on Sunday. Guardiola was playing golf with Tommy Fleetwood, the world No 12, and his son Marius at Sandiway in Cheshire when news filtered through that Manchester United had slumped to a miserable 1-0 defeat to bottom club West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford to guarantee their rivals the title. It evoked memories of Sir Alex Ferguson, the former United manager, being on the golf course when he heard his team had clinched their first Premier League title following Oldham Athletic’s victory at Aston Villa in May 1993. City’s 3-1 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening left United needing to avoid defeat to West Brom to delay their rivals’ title coronation, but Jose Mourinho’s side surrendered in abject fashion, Jay Rodriguez’s 73rd-minute goal handing Guardiola his ­seventh title in nine seasons and City their third in seven. City could become the first Premier League club to reach the 100-point barrier should they claim 13 points from their final five games and need just nine to surpass Chelsea’s record haul of 95 in 2004-05. Champions!!!!!! What a great feeling!! So happy to be able to share another trophy with our amazing fans!#ManCity#SharkTeam#Championspic.twitter.com/8CqCtyX7vi— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) April 15, 2018 But Kompany, the City captain, has already turned his sights to next season by urging the club to ensure there is no let-up in their pursuit of silverware. City’s title defences after their successes in 2012 and 2014 ended in disappointment and the Belgian – the club’s longest serving player – is determined to go one better next time around. “You can’t take it for granted. I’ve never been able to retain a title and I want to see if this team can be even more successful,” Kompany, who watched the game in the living room of his wife Carla’s grandmother’s house, said. Captain, leader, legend ���� @VincentKompany@ManCity@City_Watchpic.twitter.com/CGIg5HGkIQ— Alex Hunt (@AlexHunt01) April 15, 2018 “I have been lucky to win three but so many I have missed. I suppose my team-mates will perhaps roll their eyes a little bit but I have never retained a title so I want to see how we react now next season. “He [Guardiola] has been able to transfer to the team … that hunger and desire to never be satisfied. I’m probably the first one to think about next season, I would like to stay humble, this is not a dynasty. It is one title and we are all delighted but there is a lot more to do to ­unlock our full potential.” Man City player ratings for title-winning season Kompany said City’s players had bought wholeheartedly into Guardiola’s methods. “We all believed in it,” he said. “There was a period of adaptation for him coming into the league and for us taking in his methods. They were the right ones and the ones we believed in. I’m sure there are differences to how we play today compared to his Bayern and Barcelona teams. We survive and live by the strength of the team. One team was dominant in Germany and one had [Lionel] Messi, but we are nothing without the team. “The first one [title] was special but this one is perhaps the one I’m most proud of. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team. Our Time. Our City. Premier League Champions 17/18 ��#mancitypic.twitter.com/lztlN3lWFW— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2018 “I had that feeling when I woke up this morning, I don’t like to wait and see a team lose but you go into a game and think, ‘West Brom are a good team, they don’t deserve to be where they are’ and a set-piece, a wonderful goal from Rodriguez, thank you. It shows how football is in Manchester. “There have been a lot more good days for the red side but today it is for the blue.” pic.twitter.com/HHvJDwkejY— James Matthews (@JamesM1717) April 15, 2018 “We were consistent the whole season, we played at the level we wanted to. A few times we won it before we nearly threw it away.” Speaking in the wake of City’s win over Spurs, Guardiola said the challenge for the club was to win back-to-back titles and start to try to carve a history to eventually match historic rivals such as United and Arsenal. The key men on Pep Guardiola's backroom staff | James Ducker “We have to try,” the City manager said. “If you read what the people say this week we have to improve. Against Tottenham showed me how strong they were. It is important to believe because Manchester City is not like United or Chelsea or Arsenal – you know, the big clubs in England who have a big history behind them. Man City fans gather at the Etihad to celebrate the title Credit: PA “So you have to do these kinds of things to think, ‘Wow, we are good. We are good too, like the other ones’. Of course it’s not going to happen next season the same – it’s impossible. But that is the target.” Mourinho congratulated City but claimed he feared a setback against West Brom after being dismayed by the over-the-top reaction to the 3-2 derby win a week earlier. My 3rd league but this one is the most special.Thanks to everyone for supporting me in this tough year!������ pic.twitter.com/kKslE189uu— David Silva (@21LVA) April 15, 2018 “Yes, I know them, I smell,” the United manager said. “I have lots of experience and that’s not because I won eight titles and I’m not on the moon because I won against Manchester City, a match that is only three points,” he said. “I saw lots of people on the moon because we won against Manchester City. I won too much to be happy with just one big victory. During the week I was trying to fight that because I was feeling it. “City won the title because they were the best team. Probably because I won eight championships I was not on the moon with the victory. In my opinion it affected for sure some of the people that was too happy just with that.”

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my time and be composed today." De Bruyne "I think we spoke before the game and the game at United and Liverpool at home were good. We deserved to win but this happens, it's football. We play the same, today we scored the goals and defended better. "Everybody thinks it was tough, we feel a bit of tiredness. You feel the mental toughness of this team is unbelievable. "We're almost there. Now it's one out of five, United don't need to slip up." 9:42PM Average positions Average touch positions (0 min) 9:39PM Three points is all they need If Man Utd lose tomorrow, Man City win the league. City will want to make sure they do it themselves though, by beating Swansea on Sunday. 9:37PM FULL TIME A deserved win for Man City! They are a game away from winning the Premier League and got this result with some superb play. All the chances, all the possession, some lovely moves - they are the best team in the league. 9:36PM 90 mins +4 The counter-attack is on! Sterling and Bernardo are against one man! Sterling just has to pass the ball inside... but he's put it way too close to the goalkeeper. Poor. 9:35PM 90 mins +2 The Yaya Kolo Toure song is doing the rounds at Wembley now. Classic. Spurs have a corner... and Kane heads it! But away from goal. Moura has it now 30 yards out and POWERS a shot at goal! Ederson tips it wide - that was really travelling. 9:32PM 90 mins Yaya Toure! Here he is! A rare appearance for Yaya, who comes on for De Bruyne for the final few minutes. 9:31PM 88 mins Wembley is starting to empty. Spurs are still coming forward. Moura tricks his way down the right, shifts it inside to the edge of the box and Eriksen's neat skill opens the chance to shoot. It's low and central though and Ederson can save easily. Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 87 min) 9:29PM 87 mins Sissoko, on for Alli, tries to drive a low cross into the box but is blocked. Son lofts a chip to the back post but puts it out for a goal kick. It feels very much like this game is done. 9:28PM 86 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City City are in pure counter-attack mode now, sitting deep as Spurs try to find a way through them. 9:27PM 85 mins City counter from the corner... Bernardo just wants the ball to be released and he's away in behind. It doesn't come, De Bruyne has it wide and tries to go past Moura, who gets a foot on the tackle and stops him going anywhere. 9:26PM 83 mins De Bruyne picks a pass out of the air beautifully then moves it backwards. City are in total control of the ball and making Spurs work for it but Kompany's given it away! A pass straight to Son! Alli moves onto his right and shoots... but it's deflected over. 9:23PM 81 mins Bernardo carries the ball, Sterling moves to his left and he's played in. Vertonghen misses his slide tackle and Sterling gets to the line... but runs out of ideas and Sanchez tackles. 9:22PM 79 mins De Bruyne has been exceptional today. He seems to have that extra bit of pace and bite to his game which hasn't been there the last few matches and Spurs don't really know what to do with him. Spurs are still pressing high trying to catch out City's buildup play but the confidence is back and they're moving it around quickly. Credit: REUTERS 9:20PM 78 mins Delph is booked for a foul on Lucas Moura, putting his arm across his face. Walker defends calmly at the back post to chest a cross from wide right back to his goalkeeper. 9:19PM 75 mins Sterling is ridiculously quick. Otamendi punts it long, De Bruyne shields the ball as it drops from the sky and then oh my god that is an amazing pass. First time, just pointing his foot in the right direction, he lets the ball bounces off his boot and land perfectly in the path of Sterling's run. It's a first touch pass, from a ball dropping out of the sky. Incredible technique. Sterling races past Sanchez but the defender recovers and slides to block his shot at the near post. 9:16PM GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! sterling goal Sterling makes amends immediately! The corner pings around the box, a shot is fired at the near post and Lloris gets down to parry it. He can't get up in time to stop the rebound, which Sterling pumps into the back of the net. That's how you finish! Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) 9:14PM 72 mins Dembele is booked for taking down De Bruyne. It's about 30 yards out but De Bruyne seems to be lining up a shot from the free-kick. He does shoot but hits the wall. Spurs are yet to have a shot on goal in this half. KDB sends the ball wide right to Walker, he has space! A low cross into the area and Sterling is there! He only has to shoot to score! Dummies, round the goalkeeper, takes too long... bodies in the box block his shot! He had to score there! Attempt Saved: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 71 min) Guardiola must be going spare. 9:12PM 70 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City Otamendi reads that brilliantly! Vertonghen takes the ball out of defence and City have left space in their half. Spurs attack quickly, Eriksen pokes a pass out left to the free man but Otamendi runs and takes it in his stride. Great defending. Spurs playing with belief and momentum now. 9:10PM 68 mins Credit: REUTERS 9:09PM 67 mins Eriksen whips a free-kick into the area from wide right and it rattles through bodies in the box. Eriksen gets it back in a deep position but chips straight into the box. The goalkeeper catches easily. 9:08PM 66 mins Sane is substituted for Otamendi. That'll be a change in shape. Son comes on for Spurs. Lamela off. 9:08PM 65 mins And now Silva is in behind! He cuts it back to Sterling, his first touch isn't good and the ball bounces up, he waits for it to fall and then shoots! It hits the chasing defender and lands in the goalkeeper's hands. 9:07PM 64 mins JESUS IS IN BEHIND! WHAT A CHANCE! How did that even happen! Gundogan spots a run - somehow - with a quick look and puts Jesus in behind. He beats the offside trap, runs at goal but takes his shot early and gets it all wrong. The ball bobbles about 20 yards wide of the goal. Out: Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 64 min) 9:06PM 63 mins Man City are passing around their own half now. Players are constantly moving into space to receive the ball, Spurs give up the high press and fall deeper... but Sane is robbed of it on the touchline. 9:03PM 61 mins Kane chips a nice ball over to Lamela but he's strayed just offside. Sane hits a fast one into Jesus but he can't quite control it and Spurs recover. KANE IS IN! Offside. For a moment there it seemed like the striker was clean in behind the defence. Nervy stuff for City's defence. 9:01PM 58 mins That is confident passing by City. Spurs have them defending in their own box but Delph refuses to go long, plays it short with Ederson and Silva flicks a round-the-corner pass into Delph to keep things going. Spurs were pressing high - a single mistake and they were in trouble there. Jesus has taken a knock to the head and is having a little check-up with the physio. 8:58PM 56 mins De Bruyne powers away from Dembele as he carries Man City forwards after Kompany slides in on Alli to deny him a run into the box. Demeble is no slouch but jeeeeez De Bruyne is fast! Dier catches Delph late as he takes the ball inside the pitch. City slowing things down, or at least trying to. 8:57PM 54 mins Credit: REUTERS Love a good 'behind the goal' photo. That's Lloris picking the ball out of the net after Gundogan's penalty. City are giving the ball away far too easily now and Guardiola is incensed on the sidelines. Spurs are dominating play! 8:55PM 53 mins It's City's turn to sit deep and absorb pressure. Spurs have them pinned back and Alli goes down in the area! Kompany comes down on his foot and puts his weight on the top of Alli's boot. It's not a penalty but Alli's still down, he's felt that one. 8:53PM 51 mins City wait for Spurs to commit players to the high press before they come out of their defensive shape from a goal kick. That's brave but it really works and they're able to transition into an attacking shape with fewer defending players ahead of them. Spurs win the ball back, Vertonghen takes it out of defence and spreads it wide. Pochettino's woken his team up at half time. 8:51PM 49 mins Great ball from Eriksen! Ederson comes to punch it and gets it away but the linesman has spotted an offside in there anyway. Delph has done brilliantly to evade two players trying to tackle him as City play out from the back. 8:49PM 47 mins Lovely skill be Alli! He turns Gundogan with a touch and turn and puts Spurs on the front foot. Laporte is clumsy on Eriksen and gives away a free-kick wide right. 8:48PM KICK OFF 2 kick off 2 spurs We're back! 8:39PM Keeping the ball Possession: Spurs vs Man City 8:36PM The shapes Average touch positions (half time) Spurs are losing the midfield battle despite putting five men across it. 8:35PM The Ben Davies tackle Credit: REUTERS Hmmmmmm. Credit: REUTERS And that photo might explain why Lamela wasn't booked. There was contact after all! Just not enough to send him tumbling - Kompany's studs touch the top of his boot but that wouldn't send a man down. Well, it shouldn't. 8:32PM HALF TIME City spend the final minute in Spurs' half but that's it for the first 45. A half of two halves. 8:30PM 45 mins +1 Spurs are in again! The crowd roars as Lamela beats Laporte inside the box and squares a pass across the area... Kompany clears. Spurs have momentum here. Jesus is booked for a foul at halfway. 8:29PM 45 mins Guardiola is FURIOUS. Water bottles are being flung around the technical area. 8:29PM GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Eriksen goal Spurs are back in it! There's a lot of luck here but Kane's pass into the area is fantastic. Ederson races off his line, Laporte slides in and the ball bounces off both like a pinball machine and then comes off Eriksen's knee to roll into the net. Spurs 1 - 2 Man City (Christian Eriksen, 42 min) 8:27PM 42 mins De Bruyne chops down Vertonghen with a scissor tackle, trying to recover for a mistake he'd just made. It's a yellow card for KDB. Spurs can put this free-kick into the box. 35 yards out... headed away by Kompany, Spurs still have it! There's a chance! 8:25PM 41 mins Sane shoots but balloons his effort way over. Spurs want to pass out from the back, City send men forward to stop it, Lloris punts it long to be safe. 8:24PM 39 mins Credit: GETTY IMAGES Davies fouls Sterling, who skins him with a lovely bit of skill, nudging it off his knee to go past him. The free-kick is 25 yards out on the right side of the box. 8:22PM 38 mins Trippier yells at the referee as he doesn't get a free-kick he wants. He gets called up for it... but isn't booked. Somewhere, Gigi Buffon is SEETHING as he watches. LAMELA GOES DOWN IN THE BOX! He wins the ball from Kompany in the area, Kompany sticks out a leg but doesn't catch him and Lamela drops to his knees. No penalty and he's lucky not to be booked for diving. 8:20PM 36 mins Spurs press high but City's passing is superb and they're bypassing it every time. Spurs string some passes together and come forward but City fall back into their defensive shape and block the passing options. 8:18PM 34 mins This is a bit of a hiding at the moment! De Bruyne works so hard in the final third to win the ball back and does so, setting Silva up for a powerdrive from outside the box. Lloris saves well and Sane can't quite do enough to turn the chance into a shooting opportunity. Corner... cleared by Spurs. 8:17PM 33 mins Lamela has a chance to move inside the pitch, takes the ball down really well and Kane peels away into space ahead of him! Lamela shoots wide with a decent, powerful effort. Kane is annoyed he didn't get the pass. Out: Spurs 0 - 2 Man City (Erik Lamela, 32 min) 8:15PM 31 mins Spurs are playing dirty here. They're leaving a few nasty wee digs on City players who aren't rising to it. Spurs vs Man City City easily winning the midfield battle. 8:14PM 29 mins City are cutting Spurs open with ease! Now Sane sprints in behind down the left and wins a corner! Silva sends it in, Sanchez heads away at the near post. 8:12PM 27 mins Ben Davies should be off. That's an absolutely horrendous challenge, putting his full weight on challenge into Kompany's shin. He could have snapped him there but the left-back gets away with a yellow card. Kompany challenges him on it. Spurs' frustration is bubbling over here. 8:11PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! goal 2 city 8:09PM PENALTY! City find space in behind again! Sterling is played in on the left, Lloris slides into him and fouls, the referee tries to play on but stops and awards the spot kick. It's a dreadful tackle from the goalkeeper and he's lucky to stay on but replays show the contact was outside the box. More refereeing controversy! 8:08PM GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Jesus goal What a goal! Kompany has time on the right wing of defence, spots Jesus moving and pings a beautiful ball into the channel. It beats everyone and Jesus runs through on goal with Sanchez chases him. He keeps cool and finishes low past Lloris! Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) 8:05PM 21 mins Sane overlaps, Silva plays him in, Sterling attacks from deep! He goes down - too easily - and wants a penalty as Dembele sees to him. Never a penalty. Sterling is played into space on the right again! He cuts it back for Gundogan, who shoots... and wins a corner. Spurs deal with it but City keep up the pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch. De Bruyne accelerates away from Alli on the right but his cross is too high for anyone to get at. 8:03PM 19 mins Possession: Spurs vs Man City This stat will change. Spurs starting to play football, wakened up by that Dier tackle on De Bruyne. The latter is clever and draws a foul to win City possession back just as Spurs begin to look threatening. 8:01PM 17 mins Lamela slides in on Delph and gives away a free-kick. He catches Delph and gets away with it this time... but that was a bit of a lunge. Spurs are enjoying more of the ball now, putting City on the back foot. Dier goes into a crunching tackle on De Bruyne, getting the crowd on their feet. Great challenge. 7:59PM 15 mins Sterling is absolutely rapid and chases the ball back to Lloris at Roadrunner speed. Sane and Jesus join in to start the high press, Lloris rushes a clearance and City win it back. The referee pulls play back for a foul on Trippier by Sane. 7:57PM 13 mins Credit: AFP Laporte tries to fool Eriksen with twisting and turning but ends up giving away a throw. Should have released it earlier! 7:56PM 12 mins Davies fouls Walker while going for a header. Sterling wins a corner - Man City have started really well. The big guns come up for it, the ball is chipped to the back of the box and Gundogan takes it down. He loses control and a pass forward draws Ederson off his line to sweep up. 7:54PM 10 mins Dele Alli cuts inside to shoot and is blocked. Attempt Saved: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Dele Alli, 7 min) Man City get up the other end of the pitch quickly and Sterling turns the entire defence with a clever spin off the ball. He moves onto his right foot, wins the space to shoot and hits a powerful shot over the bar. The boy needs to work on that finishing. Silva carries the ball forward and finds De Bruyne on the right in way too much space. His first touch isn't great but his second - a fizzing shot - flies wide of the far post. 7:52PM 8 mins City are controlling possession at the moment but Spurs are looking to catch them on the counter-attack. A loose pass gives Dembele the chance to break but Laporte recovers. Credit: OFFSIDE 7:51PM 6 mins "I just wanted to talk about Laporte", says Thierry Henry. "For the first time Fernandinho is on the bench. He used to dominate the physical battle in Spain, let's see how he does with Harry Kane today." Thanks Geoff. 7:49PM 4 mins SANE! OFF THE POST! What a hit that was! Post: Spurs 0 - 0 Man City (Leroy Sané, 3 min) City manage, somehow, to work their way behind the SPurs backline down the right and Sterling's chip into the area gives Sane the chance to volley. He comes across it to slice the ball and gets heaps of power on it but is just slightly off with his aim! Lloris just stood there, he knew he was beaten. 7:46PM 2 mins City send the ball forward straight away and give Spurs a throw-in. Eriksen has lined up in the 10 position behind Kane, Alli wide left, Lamela right. Sane tracks back to win the ball from Lamela early on. 7:45PM KICK OFF Spurs kick off Here we go! 7:40PM Harry Kane's chase for top scorer Mo Salah's goal in the Liverpool game put him on 30 for the season. Can Kane catch him? 7:39PM I love mascots Credit: GETTY IMAGES They're the best. There's something inherently funny about all of them. 7:03PM Kane's goal appeal There's been one topic of hot debate this week - the Harry Kane goal appeal. It's divided opinion among fans and according to our correspondent Tom Cary, Maurico Pochettino has scored an own goal with his Kane revelation. Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted his star player has been “hurt” by the reaction to his determination to claim the goal adding that he is sure other fans are going to “kill” his star player for it. Whether true or not, it was surely unwise of Pochettino to say that. It was basically giving a green light to rival fans to continue mocking him. Kane is now fated to be copping abuse for this incident for ages. And once these things take root, they can be difficult to shake. Just ask John Terry, who still gets Photoshopped into every celebration going, whether football-related or not. The fact that everyone from Gary Lineker to Salah weighed in on Twitter, ridiculing Kane, has not helped. A million memes await him. 6:51PM And now City's... Manchester City are without injured Sergio Aguero and suspended Fernandinho as they look to stop a run of three successive defeats. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Sane. Subs: Bravo, Bernardo Silva, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Diaz. How we’re lining up at Wembley tonight! City XI | Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Laporte, Delph, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus Subs | Bravo, Bernardo, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Yaya Touré, Foden, Brahim Diaz Presented by @HAYSWorldwide#spursvcity#mancitypic.twitter.com/aQzUMakXkB— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2018 6:50PM Tottenham team news Tottenham make four changes with Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela coming into the starting XI in place of Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Serge Aurier and Heung-Min Son. Spurs XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane. Subs: Son, Wanyama, Vorm, Sissoko, Aurier, Lucas Moura, Sterling. #THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/G2gTdm9pfj— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 14, 2018 6:30PM Is this City's big day? Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for what could be Manchester City's big Premier League celebration. It's Saturday night, Ant and Dec are nowhere near and Pep Guardiola's sensational side face a real test from one of the top four challengers. And it's LIVE! If City do manage to win tonight, they'll be dancing on the streets of Manchester, at least after they get through the annoyingly long queue out of Wembley. City players will be keen to ensure they keep their heads and don't suffer a defeat and make that form look like a meltdown. It's the kind of thing they'd be remembered for rather than the ease with which they got themselves so far ahead of the chasing pack. Credit: REUTERS Meanwhile, Harry Kane will be looking to claim anything he can as a goal and has many relatives he can safely risk a bet if there is controversy. The difficult part will be when he has to murder his cousin with bare hands because the ball didn't actually come off his knee after all. #sad Team news will be with us at 6:45pm.

Man City one win from Premier League glory as they put three goals past Spurs in dominant display

Pep Guardiola will be playing golf with his son on Sunday afternoon, when the Premier League title could finally be handed to Manchester City, although the Catalan showed no signs of knowing that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson famously did when he won his first in 1993. That year, it was a surprise defeat for Aston Villa against Oldham Athletic that sealed Manchester United’s title and if they lose to bottom-placed club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon, then history will repeat itself – although unhappily in United’s case. If it is not this weekend then it will be soon, and when young Marius Guardiola accompanies his father around the course he will surely detect a lightening of mood around a man who has been very intense for the last eight months. Guardiola has previously stopped short of saying that the Premier League is the most difficult of the three nations’ championships he has conquered, but having emerged from the toughest week of the season, he said that this title had demanded the most. After three straight defeats encompassing a Champions League exit and a Mancunian humbling, this was a vintage City Guardiola victory – by no means perfect but done with full conviction in their attacking principles. “In the end if you have 87 points with five games left it is because we have been outstanding,” Guardiola said. “When people say it is a failure because of what happened last week, they do not understand anything in football. The Champions League is seven games and you can win it. The league is every three days for ten months. I’m sorry, what these guys have done all season is much more important.” Asked if he will keep up with the score from Old Trafford while out on the course, Guardiola cracked a rare joke, “Yes, bogey, double bogey, birdie”. As for the Premier League, he said that it had tested him even more than La Liga and the Bundesliga. “It is more difficult. Physicality, weather conditions, the amount of games. It is tough. The Premier League is so, so tough, that is why hopefully on Sunday if we win, it will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.” Average touch positions (0 min) They inflicted on Tottenham Hotspur the club’s first league defeat since Dec 16, when they lost to Guardiola’s team in the corresponding fixture. The league leaders were not always perfect but they trusted in their pursuit of the high press, of trying to defend by attacking relentlessly, and against one of the few sides who like to do the same, City came out on top. It was a bad day for Mauricio Pochettino whose team were engulfed in the customary first half City blitz, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Ilkay Gundogan before Spurs got a hold on the game and briefly came back. Yet for all the determination of Pochettino’s side to pass the ball out of defence, City did it better, switching formation in the second half and finishing off Spurs’ challenge with a third goal from Raheem Sterling. The Spurs manager was upset afterwards, refusing even to contest referee Jonathan Moss’ award of a penalty to Sterling. The striker was brought down by Hugo Lloris and although the connection was outside the area, most of the player’s body had crossed the line. Spurs were worth their goal at the end of the first half from Christian Eriksen, which came in their best period of the game. When City stepped it up in the second half, Spurs did not have the extra gear to keep up. Man City players celebrated at the final whistle with fans Credit: AFP “We started the game really, really badly,” Pochettino said. “We didn’t play for 20 to 25 minutes. We conceded two goals against a team like Manchester City that is top of the Premier League. It was so easy for them. We started to compete after 2-0.” Guardiola rightly identified the magnificent work of Mousa Dembele when he was on the ball, but there was always De Bruyne to outshine him. There will be legitimate questions again about Lloris who conceded a penalty and pushed another chance back to the feet of Sterling for his goal, City’s third. The Englishman is in joint third place among the Premier League goalscorers and had one of his best games, despite missing more than once. Spurs 0 - 1 Man City (Gabriel Jesus, 22 min) “The moment he [Raheem] can increase his average chances to score a goal, he will become one of the best players in the world,” Guardiola said. “He missed two clear chances against United from the penalty spot – it would have been 3-0. He missed today. The moment he improves that, he will be a top, top, top player. He is so fast, a dynamic player, character, one against one. He is an excellent guy.” Leroy Sane hit the post within three minutes and Sterling and De Bruyne both had near misses in a rampage that Spurs only got under control around the 15-minute mark, after which City came again and scored their first goal. Spurs held a very high line and when Vincent Kompany picked the ball up in the right back position, Jesus draw Davinson Sanchez with him and then out-sprinted the defender onto the throughball to score. A couple of minutes later Sterling ran down the left channel and was played in by a fine ball from Gundogan. There was some discussion about whether Lloris’ blatant studs-on-ankle challenge on Sterling was a penalty but when he connected, the Sterling leg in question was the only part of the City player outside the box. Lloris was booked, Gundogan dispatched the penalty. Spurs 1 - 3 Man City (Raheem Sterling, 72 min) Just before half-time, Ben Davies played the ball into Harry Kane who was then permitted to turn by City, allowing him to spot Eriksen’s dart in behind the away team’s defence to create the Spurs goal for the Dane. City never again enjoyed the domination they had at the start of the first half but they created the chances to win the game and eventually Sterling took his, ripping the rebound high into the Spurs goal after Lloris had pushed out Jesus’ shot. By then Guardiola had switched to a three-man defence, bringing on Nicolas Otamendi for Sane and pushing Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph on as wing-backs. His side were in control, and back to doing what they do best. 9:51PM Kompany looks pleased Credit: REUTERS 9:49PM Man City players reaction Raheem Sterling "We needed a big turnaround and I think we started well and came through strong. "I remember seeing Gabby (Jesus) and the keeper running out. I snatched at a few, I didn't take my time. I tried to take my tim